Disneyana Obscura: The Por Favor Podcast

For many a fan of the Disney Company, the films, the shows, and the parks aren't quite enough to satiate the need for Disney. They want to talk about it but often find that their friends, family, and co-workers just don't share their passion for all things Disney. So, as any lonely, misunderstood person does, they turn to the Internet where vast communities of Disney fans create websites, discussion groups, Twitter hashtags, and, most importantly, podcasts as ways to share and interact with fellow Disney enthusiasts around the world.

One such podcast that I particularly enjoy is call the Por Favor Mantengase Alejado De Las Podcast (a title they got from the Spanish version of the monorail warning speech. The podcast is in English, though), or the Por Favor Podcast for short. Hosted by cousins Mike and Gary, their title alone sets the stage for the oddball sense of humor these two bring to their love of Disney. Affectionately, the hosts throw around nicknames at a rapid pace, often referring to themselves or others as Jürgen, Eric, Myq, Steve Melnyq, and several others. For first time listeners, this can be a bit jarring, but after an episode or two, you will be able to follow right along.

Each episode starts off with just a regular conversation where the two hosts just get caught up with each other. Gary, being in Rhode Island, and Mike, having recently moved to Florida from Minnesota, obviously aren't seeing each other much so we as an audience get a glimpse into their lives as they chat sports and family (most of whom have "PorFavor" tacked onto the beginning of their names). Their banter really sets the tone of each episode and is refreshing  after listening to other podcasts which stick soley to the "Disney All-Day, Every-Day" formula.

What is also nice is that the two hosts don't come to their love of Disney from the same angle. Gary is your usual park enthusiasts while Mike, if given his druthers, would just stay at the resorts all day. This really steers their conversations in different ways and, again, really helps them stand out from the crowd. Sometimes, their passions get a little heated, too, especially when the big "F" word gets brought up. This, too can lead to some really interesting episodes.

These guys like to keep things fresh, also. To do this, they have events every once in a while. For example, they recently  did a multi-part event where they simulated a "March Madness"-style tournament featuring attractions and, resorts, restaurants, and various other Disney staples pitted against each other. Each episode featured a lively discussion where the hosts, and sometimes guest hosts, hashed out who within the match-up was better.

Each month, they also do what they call "Por Favor Date Night" where they select a Disney movie and live tweet the viewing using the hashtag #porfavorDN (see my previous post). The tweets are usually quite amusing and the movies they pick are always classics. Sometimes, hosts from other podcasts get in on the action, unless they are too busy doing other, more important things, like eating with Emeril.

So, if you are a podcast listener, I HIGHLY recommend you give the gentlemen over at the Por Favor Podcast a listen. You can find them online at PorFavorPodcast.com or on Twitter at @PorFavorPodcast. Worth the follow!